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VOL. XXXVIII.
PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. C, OCTOBER 27, 1915.
NO. 12.
Ml.
ir ift film.
mm
WW. yr v
IMPORTANT NEWS
THE WORLD OVER
Happenings of This and Other Nations
For Seven Days Are
Given.
THE NEWS J)FTHE SOUTH
What Is Taking Place in the South
land Will Be Found in
Brief Paragraphs.
Foreign
Great Britain has made a formal
oSer of the Island of Cyprus, an isl
and of 3,584 square miles in the Med
iterranean, inhabited by three hun
dred thousand Greek-speaking people,
to Greece as soon as Greece under
takes to intervene in the war on the
side of the allies. The offer is not
contingent on the final triumph of the
allies. -
A Russian imperial manifesto issued
at Petrograd characterizes Bulgaria
as ' the betrayer of the Slav cause,"
and announces that Russian draws the
sword against her.
Italy has declared war on Bulgaria,
following the example of Great Brit
ain and France, and an Italian squad
ron has left, for the Near East to par
ticipate in the Balkan blockade.
The chimney of the Maubeuge works
(France) has been destroyed by a Zep
pelin dashing into it. All the occu
pants of the Zeppelin were killed.
A German lieutenant, detached from
duty while convalescing, has received
orders to rejoin his corps, the six
teenth Bavarian, at Dedeaghatch, Bul
garia, between November 16 and De
cember 3, "After this time," the or
der states, "the corps will be station
ed at Constantinople."
It is stated that an army of 250,000
Serbian women, equal in number to
the entire Serbian regular army, will
soon be on the.,, firing line against
the Germans. They state that they
"are not going to sit at home and see
their fathers, husband and brothers
driven out of Serbia." Many Serbian
women have already been killed.
Sir Edward Carson, attorney general
of the British cabinet, has resigned
It is stated that he disapproves the
Near East policy, hut he himself has
yet made no explanation of his con
duct. The maximum price of butter in Ger
many has been fixed by law at 70 cents
a pound. The price had reached 80
cents a pound and was still rising, and
the government promptly issued a
manifesto fixing the price and forbid
ding the use of milk for baking, manu
facturing chocolate and candy and oth
er similar purposes and forbidding the
sale of cream.
Domestic
A dispatch from Brownsville, Texas,
reports that the sixth cavalry fired
on and killed two supposed Mexican
bandits who were crossing the Hio
Grande at the San Pedro ranch, 12
miles up the river from Brownsville.
Representatives of eleven South
ern lumber exporting firms met in
Memphis, Tenn., and organized - a
lumber exporters' line. The firms
represented at the meeting a capital
of $5,000,000. The ships will carry
hardwoods from gulf ports to the
principal ports of Europe.
Two policemen shot two boys off a
motorcycle in the residence district
of Los Angeles, Cal., killing one and
probably fatally wounding the other.
They claim the boys were thieves
A syndicate , of New Orleans bank
ers announces that a loan of ten mil
lion dollars has been made the de fac
to Mexican "government headed by
General Carranza.
As a result of the recognition by
the United States and other pdwers
of the Mexican de facto government,
a transportation line operating be
tween New Orleans and Mexican gulf
ports, has , been organized, which, it
is expected, will greatly enhance
commence between Central America
and the southern section of the Unit
ed States.
More than five thousand persons
are killed each year while trespassing
on railroad tracks or stealing rides
on trains, is the statement emanating
from the National Safety Council, in
fourth annual session at Philadelphia.
The jury in the coroner's inquest
into the cause of. tHe death of Sidney
J. Cohen, a Charleston, S. C, news
paper reporter, shot in the city Dem
ocratic executive room, where the
votes in the recent city election were
being recounted, returned a verdict
that he was shot by a party. or par
lies unknown to the jury. The evi
dence was so conflicting that it was
impossible for the jury to reach any
other conclusion.
Six persons were killed, two fatally
Injured and about eight others badly
hurt as the result of a head-on col
lision between a' passenger and freight
!rain twelve miles south of Chickasha,
Oklahoma.
New Jersey registered at the polls
sn emphatic "no" to woman's appeal
for the ballot. President .Wilson voted
tor suffrage for women. ,
The distribution of a $57,000,000
Hussian war contract for munitions
nd supplies recently awarded in this
country is announced In New York
City.
A. jury in a federal court at El
Paso, Texas has returned a verdict
f guilty in the cases .of eighteen Mex
icans charged with - violation of the
t nited States neutrality laws. Sen
tence has been deferred, but they are
Three girls are dead and eight oth-
er
victims badly burned and injured
the result of a fire in a movine
as
picture film room in Atlanta. Ga. The
cause of the fire has not been ascer
tained. It is stated that it was caused
a fuse blowing out. but this is
question, and an investigation will
be instituted at once.
European War
The allied fleet In the Aegean sea
has turned its guns against the Bul
garian coast and bombarded it from
Dedeaghatch westward to Porto La
gos, a distance of 38 miles. Sofia as
serts that no damage has resulted to
Dedeaghatch.
It is announced in London that
Greece has declined tne offer of Cy
prus, and that the refusal is based
on the ground that the allied force
landed at Saloniki is not strong
enough for the tasks allotted it.
The Austro-German and Bulgarian
campaign is developing slowly, but
the plans are now fairly clear.
The Russians are reported as hav
ing delivered fierce strokes at the Teu
tonic allies on the Styr and in Galicia.
The Russians claim to have taken
11,000 prisoners in their latest offen
sive north of Tarnopol.
The. German reports from Baran
ovichi claim successes, and state that
4,00d prisoners have been taken.
The British submarine campaign
against German shipping in the Bal
tic reports four more German steam
ships sunk.
London makes official announce
ment that the total number of British
merchant vessels sunk by German
submarines from the beginning of the
war to October 14, is 183. In addition
to this 175 fishing vessels were sunk.
It is announced . by the authorities
in Berlin that it is highly probable
that England will end the war by
the coming spring.. The reason giv
en is that Great Britain has "too
much sound business sense" to con
tinue a losing fight. ,
The operations in the Balkans,
aside from the actual fighting, are
growing more interesting. Despite the
fact that the Bulgars have cut at
Vranya the railroad running north
from Saloniki to Nish, which will im
pede the movement of the allied forces
up the Morava valley, French and
British troops still are landing at Sal
oniki to go to the aid of the Serbians
and will continue to do so.
A big offensive by the Germans to
the east of Rheims on a front of six
miles, which was preceded by a heavy
bombardment and the use of asphyxi
ating shells and clouds of chlorine
gas, gained for the Teutons some of
the French first line trenches. Counter
attacks, however, forced the Germans
back to their former positions with
heavy losses, according to Paris.
The British, French and Serbians
have joined forces in the Balkans and
have attacked the Bulgarian town of
Strumitsa. The plan is to invade Bul
garian at once. Winter weather Is
helping the Serbs. . The allies will
send additional reinforcements.
Russian military experts are advo
cating the use of hardy tribesmen as
soldiers, and it is said large forces
of Kirghiz (Russian Turkestan)
tribesmen, perhaps a whole army, are
likely to appear in the field after the
necessary training.
Washington
The state department announces
that the British board of trade has
arranged to make "final settlement for
all American cotton which it has
bought and which is not covered by
sales contracts. The price to be jaid
will be the market value at the port
of shipment on the date cotton was
shipped.
President Wilson received a delega
tion of women and girls from Califor
nia, who gave him a piece of gold
from a California mine, and also a
bar of gold to make a wedding ring
for his fianrcee, Mrs. Gait.
, Two commanding German officers
interned at the Norfolk navy yard
have escaped. The state department
construes that they were under per
sonal obligation to remain in the
United States until the close of the
European war, and will ask the Ger
man government to surrender them
to United States authorities.
The five year building program con
templates construction of ten dread
nauehts, six battle cruisers, fifteen
sea-going submarines, eighty-five coast
defense submarines, four gunboats,
one hospital ship, two ammunition
ships, two fuel oil ships and one re
pair ship. The last of the vessels
will be built and in commission late
will be built, and in commission late
in 1924..
President Wilson and his advisers
estimate that $400,000,000 an increase
of $140,000,000 over last year should
be appropriated by the next congress
for the army and navy.
Diplomatic relations between . the
United States and Mexico have been
renewed after a lapse of two years
and eight months by the formal rec
oenition of Venustiano Carranza as
chief executive of the de facto gov
ernment of Mexico. '
Californians are urging President
Wilson to visit the exposition at San
Francisco on his wedding trip.
Secretary Lane announces that he
has received a report from a special
agent of the geological survey tell
ing how by a simple process commer
cial mineral potash may be produced
in the "United States. It is produced
from alunite, which is found" in large
quantities in Piute county, Utah. It
is also known to exist in Utah, Colo
rado, Nevada, California and Arizona.
Heretofore millions have been spent
abroad for commercial mineral "pot
Til TO
FIX COTTON PRICES
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT
FROM SOUTH.
BUYERS DIVIDE TERRITORY
North and South Carolina and Georgia
Have Complained and Will Be
Investigated.
Washington Special agents of the
Federal Trade Commission have be
gun an investigation of charges that
cotton buyers in North and South
Carolina and Georgia have combined
to keep down prices -to producers.
The complaints alleged that large pur
chasers of cotton in the states named
have combined to divide territory in
such a way as to allow the practically
to fix the price to the grower. Com
missioner W. J. Harris, who received
the complaints, recommended a thor
ough investigation which was ordered
by the commission.
Members of the commission said
that if the allegations of the com
plaints were substantiated, the com
bination would constitute a restraint
of trade, and the commission would
(be authorized to proceed under the
anti-trust law. That would mean in
stitution of the first suit of the kind
brought through the commission since
its creation.
Agents of both the economic and
legal divisions of the commission will
conduct the investigation. The trade
commission issued the following
statement:
"The Federal Trade Commission
has ordered an immediate investiga
tion to determine whether there is a
combination upon the part of cotton
buyers of South Carolina, North Caro-
olina, and Georgia to hold down the
price of cotton. This investigation
has been undertaken at the instance
of Commissioner W. J. Harris to whose
attention complaints have come that
such a combination does exist result
ting in his submission of the matter
to the commission.
"This information Is to the effect
that for years past in the three states
in question and more particularly in
the two Carclinas there have been
varying prices for cotton, often this
difference amounting to one-half cent
a pound in two points not more than
20 miles distant from each other.
"This difference in price, it is al
leged in complaints which have
reached the commission, seems to be
the sole result of the workings of
this combination. For instance, it is
cited, many cities and towns have
practically no live markets due to the
fact that divisions of territory for
buying purposes are made, one terri
tory belonging to one, buyer, another
territory to another.
"These alleged practices are said to
be confined to certain places, indi
cated in the complaint, to a greater
extent, possiibly, than to other points
within the state specified."
LARGEST SUFFRAGE PARADE.
Thirty Thousand Ladies in Line on
Fifth Avenue, New York.
New York. Fifth avenue for four
hours was given over to the largest
woman's suffrage parade ever wit
nessed anywhere. It was the women's
appeal -to place New York at the elec
tion on November 2 among the states
which have given women the right to
vote.
Participated in by women from
every state in the union 'and from
more than 20 foreign countries, by
women from every phase of business
professional, educational, artistic and
official life, the parade extended from
Washington Square to Central Park,
and although it began shortly after
3 o'clock, it was long after dark when
the last marchers had finished.
Suffrage leaders estimated that 30,
000 women were in line. In addition,
there were 5,000 men representing,
the leaders said, only about half of
the men who had signed pledges that
they would participate.
New Export Trade Plan.
Washington. Plans for handling
export trade of the United States
through a trust company, co-operating
with the Federal government, in order
to avoid interference with cargoes,
were announced toy Secretary Red
field of the department of commerce,
after a conference with Assistant Sec
retary Peters of the treasury depart
ment, Assistant Secretary Vrooman of
the department of. agriculture and a
number of exporters trustees of the
company.
Foreign Trade Convention. .
New York. James A. Farrell, presi
dent of the United States Steer Cor
poration, and chairman of the Nation
al foreign Trade Council, issued a
call to business men to attend tie
third national foreign trade conven
tion at New Orleans, January 27-29. He
said that "commercial preparedness'!
will be the slogan of the convention,
the main object of which is to discuss
and formulate plans by which Ameri
can business men will be able to meet
the keen competition that is sure to
'sUow the war
AT PEACE
PRESIDENT WILSON IS GRATEFUL
FOR AMERICA'S MANY
BLESSINGS.
NAMES DAY TO GIVE THANKS
President Calls on America to Express
Appreciation tof Its Maniforld
- Blessings During Year.
Washington. President Wilson, in
a proclamation deaignating Thursday,
November 25, as Thanksgiving Day,
called attention to fixe fact that the
United S tates has (been at peace while
most of Europe has been at war.
"We have been able to assert out
rights and the rights of mankind with
out breach of friendship with the
great nations with whom we have had
to deal," said the president.
The text follows:
"It has long been the honored cu
torn of our people to turn in the fruit
ful autumn of the year in praise and
thanksgiving to Almighty God for his
many blessing and mercies to us as
a nation. The year that is now draw
ing to a close since we last observed
our day of national thanksgiving has
been, while a year of discipline' be
cause of the mighty forces of war and
of changes which have disturbed the
world, also a year .of special blessing
for us.
"Another year of peace has been
vouchsafed us; another year in which
not only to take thought of our duty
to ourselves and to mankind but also
to adjust ourselves to the many re
sponsibilities thrust upon us by a war
which has involved almost the whole
of Europe. We have been able to as
sert our rights and the rights of man
kind without 'breach of friendship with
the great nations with whom we have
had to deal; and while we have as
serted these rights we have been ab-le
also to perform duties and exercise
privileges of succor and helpfulness
which should serve to demonstrate
our desire to make the offices of
friendship the means of truly disin
terested and unselfish service.
"Our ability to serve all who could
avail themselves of our services in
the midst of crisis has been increased,
by a gracious Providence, by more
and more abundant crops; our ample
financial resources have enabled us
to study the markets of the world and
facilitate necessary movements of
coram rece which the war might other
wise have rendered impossible; and
our people have come more and more
to a sober realization of the part they
have been called upon to play in a
time when all the world is shaken by
unparalleled distress and disasters.
"The extraordinary circumstances or
such a time have done much to quick
en our national consciousness, and
deepen and confirm our confidence in
the principle of peace and freedom by
which we have always sought to be
guided. Out of darkness and perplex
ities have come firmer counsels of
policy and clearer perceptions of the
essential welfare of the nation. We
have prospered while other peoples
were at war, but our prosperity has
(been vouchsafed us, we believe, only
that we might the better perform the
functions which war rendered it im
possible for them to perform.
"Now, therefore, I, Wood row Wilson,
president of the United States of
America, do hereby designate Thurs
day, the twenty-fifth of November
next, as a day of Thanksgiving and
praver. and invite the people through
out the land to cease from their wont
ed occupations and r i their several
homes and places of worship render
thanks to Almighty Gtid.
"In witness wherecf I have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States t-r be affixed.
"Done at the City of Washington,
this twentieth day ot October in the
year of Our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and fifteen and of the inde-
penderooe of the United Stages oif
America the one hundred and fortieth.
"By the President: Robert Lensing,
Secretary of State.
"WOODROW WILSON."
Hundreds Fell Each Second.
Berlin (Wireless to Tuckerton).--
The Tanges Zeitung says that during
one period of the great battle at Loos
the British fell at the rate of 100 men
a second. "The British attacked in
dense rows of eight sections," says
the Overseas News Agency in a re
sume ot The Tages Zeitung's dispatch
"Their attack presented a spectacle
like that of a Napoleonic battle be
fore tbe days of machine guns or
eannon with long range. The British
artillery came up as far as possibla
without being the rifle range.
Turks Protest Charges.
Washington. The Turkish embas
sy issued a official report from the
eeneral Ottoman headquarters charg
ing that, many atrocities have been
committed against 'the Moslems on
the Caucasus frontier by Russian
troops assisted by the Greek and
ATmeuian population. Bands of Rus
sians, Greeks and Armenians are ac
cused of, attacking many women and
having pierced the cheecks'of babes
sr that they starved to- death. Tor
tures of the middle ages are said to
have been revived by Armenians.
a!
WORLD
WAR
VETERANS ETECT
in5 AS LEADER
ASSOCIATION WILL RAISE $25,000
TO PROVIDE NORTH CARO
LINA HISTORY.
DISPATCHES FROM RALEIGH
Doings and Happenings That Mark
the Progress of North Carolina Peo
ple Gathered Around the State
Capitol.
Raleigh.
The North Carolina Association
United Confederate Veterans elected
Capt. J. L. Metts of Wilmington as
major general commanding to sue-
ceed Gen. J. S. Carr of Durham, re
signed on account of having been
elected to the command of a division.
Other officers elected were: District
commanders, P. C. Carleton, States
ville; W. L. London, Pittshoro; R. H.
Ricks, Rocky Mount; Maj. H. A. Lon
don, Pittshoro, secretary.
The association adopted a resolu
tion providing a special committee to
raise by private subscription $25,000
to meet the expense of preparing a
true- ristory of North Carolina's part
tn the Civil War and appointed on this
committee Messrs. Metts, J. S. Carr,
R H. Hicks, A. H. Boyden, and W.
L. London. Col. J. Bryan ' Grimes
made a stirring speech in advocacy
of the resolution and in explanation
of the plans for the preparation of the
history, which is intended to be writ
ten by the very best historian that
the state affords.
While , there was no definite an
nouncement of such purpose in the
discussion it i3 understood that num
bers of the leaders in the movement
hope to induce Dr. D. H. Hill to resign
the presidenc yof the A. & M. College
and devote the next several years to
the writing of this history. Already
several prominent citizens have pledg
ed subscriptions as large as $5,000
each and It Is expected that the funds
necessary will be very soon in hand.
The association received an invita
tion through General Metts to hold
the next annual encampment in the
early summer of 1916 in Wilmington.
The invitation was backed by the Wil
mington Chamber of Commerce and
other organizations and was enthu
siastically accepted.
Wants North Carolina Branch.
E. E. Pratt, chief of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
Washington, has written Commission
er M. L. Shiptman. A significant letter
with reference to the establishment of
a co-operative branch office of the de
partment at Raleigh for the benefit
of the manufacturing Interests in
North Carolina. Mr. Ship man feels
sure that it will not be a great while
now before this state will -ave the
advantages of such an office as a
means of increased ' participation in
the commerce between the United
States and the South American coun
tries. Discussing the details as to such a
branch office, Mr. Pratt says that each
of these offices is supplied with con
fidential inforanatton regarding the
markets for American goods in for
eign countries, lists of foreign im
porters, copies of trade directories
and other special publications of the
bureau. Branch offices are also given
preference whenever it seems advis
able in arranging schedules for spe
cifications, samples, exhibits, and
similar material which the bureau re
ceives from time to time through con
sular offices and its own field rep
resentatives. Several New Charters Granted.
The Hilton Compress Warehouse
Company of Wilmington, capital
$100,000 authorized and $30,000 sub
scribed for general cotton compress,
ginning and cotton manufacturing
business.
The Asheville Packing Company of
Asheville, capital $25,000 authorized
and $4,390 subscribed for general gro
cery business.
The Shaw-Cox Motor Company,
Lexington, capital $25,000 authorized,
and $3,000 subscribed.
Health Survey of Orange County.
The United States Public Health
Service has completed its exhaustive
survey of health conditions in Orange
county. The survey is the most re
markable ever conducted by the gov
ernment inasmuch as the rural health
conditions of any section has never
been the subject of such an intensive
study. The national health depart
partment employed six sanitary ex
perts and utilized six months in visit
ing every rural home in Orange coun
ty. Eight public meetings were held
to exploit the idea.
Bulletin oh Commercial Feeds.
The state department of agriculture
has just issued a bulletin on "Com
mercial Feeds." It showed that for
the year 'there were 1,093 samples of
feeds analyzed in the department
laboratory and that of this number
there were found to be only 137 that
fell below the standards of guarantee
branded on the packages under the
state and. national pure . food laws.
The authorities regard this as a
splendid showing of effort on the part
of manufacturers to comply with regulations.
Norf.h Carolina.
Tain't way up North
Where Winters friz;
Tain't way down South,
Where Summers sizz,
Tain't 'way out West
Like Oregon; v
Tain't inland 'way
To and gone!
Bfct just right here
Where tot to be
And here I'll bloom
Perennially.
Hit am' too high ;
.Hit ain't too low,
Nor tain't all rough
Like Idyhoo;
Nor tain't like some
That's on the map
A State that's good
For just one crap.
Of all the Nation
Leastwise, that's my
Expectoration.
Taint overgrown
Like Texas there,
Taint dinkeyfied
Like Deleware,
Taint droughty like
Like New Mexico;
Taint drounded out
Like some I know
I dont know much
But this I does
The North State is -Where
Eden wuz.
Clyde Davis, Aberdeen, N. C.
Drainage Act is Unconstitutional.'
There were opinions delivered bj
the Supreme Court in 14 appeals one
of overshadowing interest being Lang
vs. Development Company, from - Pitt
county, in which the court oompetely
upsets the act of 1915 legislature as to
swamp and, lowland drainage projects,
Chapter 141, entitled "An Act to En
courage the Reclamation and Improve
ment of Swamp and. Lowlands." . The
court holds that this act is unconsti
tutional, being in violation of article
1, section 17, guaranteeing right to
private property.
In the case at bar Lang is a minor
ity landowner in a drainage district
and moved for an order restraining
the development company from cut
ting a drainage canal through his
lands. Judge Bond, in the court be
low, dismissed the petition and Lang
appealed. Now the Supreme Court
reverses Judge Bond.
Judge Hoke writes the opinion for
the court He recites the fact that
the act In question provides, among
other things, that if a majority of
three-fifths of the land-owners in a
given area of swamp or lowlands so
agree, they may contract for a ca
nal to, be dug. for drainage purpose
and the contractor can cut through
any lands designated whether the
owners agree or not, and tax such ob
jecting landowner with his proportion
of the cost.
The court says It has long been
recognized that in view of extensive
areas, especially in eastern Carolina,
that , need drainage, there should be
some eminent domain power, but it
should be properly safeguarded. The
court expressed the hope that if the
proposed drainage scheme contains a
measure of benefit to the lands af
fected that there may be some agree
ment between the parties so that , tbe
work may proceed. "But we are com
pelled to hold," says the court, "that
there is no justification for this pro
ceeding." And in its present form,
the statute is not valid law, in the
opinion of the court."
Summary of the Crop Report.
A summary of farming conditions in
North Carolina is just prepared. Con
trasts o fthe conditions of the cotton
market last season and this are made.
The crop this year is considerably
less than last year and it is hoped
that the reason is that farmers are
beginning to realize that large crops
mean low prices and that there are
crops other than cotton that show a
good profit.
A 'continued advance is noted in
stock and poultry breeding and in
dairying methods. It is found that
theYe are increases in the value of
farm lands reported from 37 counties
in the state and slight decrease in
farm land values from 26 counties and
no change at all in 37. A tendency
to smaller farms is shown in reports
from 87 and -there are 12 the reports
from which indicate a tendency to
larger farms. Labor is reported as
scare in 77 and plentiful in 23 coun
ties. The average farm wage for
men is $1 a day.
Davis Heads Liquor Foes. - ,
At the regular fall meeting of the
board of trustees of the North Caro
lina AntijSaloon League held here,
Rev. R. L. Davis was unanimously re
elected superintendent, his new term
to begin Jan. 1, 1916. It will be his
ninth consecutive year as head of the
anti-saloon forces df the state. Mr.
Archibald Johnson, of Thomas ville,
was re-elected chairman of the board
and Rev. Dr. L. E. M. Freeman, of
Raleigh, was elected secretary. Chair-
man Johnson was not present and ir
his absence Rev. Massey presided.
Handsome Portrait Presented.
A splendid audience filled the North
Carolina Supreme Court room for the
ceremony of the presentation of an
oil portrait of the late George Davis
of WiLmington, member of the Cabi
net of President Davis of the Confed
eracy, the portrait to be given a plac
on the walls of the court room along
with other distinguished North Caro
lina jurists and lawyers. The paint
ing, a fine likeness,-is by ; Jarques
Busbee of Raleigh. The presentation
was by Capt. S. A. Ashe, for the fam
ily. ,
MrmnoNAL
SlDMfflOOL
Lesson
(By E. O. SELLER, Acting Director of
tne aunaay scnooi course, tne Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 31
THE BOY JOASH CROWNED KING.
LESSON TEXT-II Kings 11:4-12.
GOLDEN TEXT The house of th
wicked shall be overthrown; but the tent
of the upright shall flourish. Prov. lfc
11, R. V.
This Is a great and most intensely
interesting boy's story. , For thirty
years two great heroes, Elijah -and
Elisha, fought against Baal. They
stood up against kings and people.
and fought for pure morals as the
champions of Jehovah. JehoshaphaL '
a good man, allowed his son, to marry
Jezebel's daughter and the nation
reaped the results. The son of this
union reigned over Judah but one year
and was slain by Jehu, the destroyer
of Ahab's dynasty. Athaliah, as dow
ager queen regent ruled for six years
(See 2 Chron. 22). General Jeh
wrought in the northern kingdom.
hence the temporary escape of this
child of Jezebel, the cursed queen.
I. Concealment, vv. 1-3. Jehosheba,
the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest 1a
charge of the temple, is thought to be
the daughter of Joram by another wife
than Athaliah. She was the agent in
God's hands of saving the boy's life
and of the final extinguishment of the
seed of Ahab. Jehosheba, as daughter
of one king, sister of another and high
priest's wife, was familiar with every .
nook and corner of the temple, and
so a woman's ruthlessness was out
witted by a woman's cunning." Far
rar. Thus God saved the seed of Da
vid accordine to his Word (Psalms
r&9:3, 4).
II. Conspiracy, w. 4-8. Athaliah'
bloody reign is one of the darkest
pages in the history of Judah. She
murdered not her own children but -her
grandchildren to gain, or rather to
continue, her rule, for as her son'
counselor she was the real ruler ot
the nation (II Kings 8:26, 27; II Chron.
22:3, 4). God had made a promise
(ch. 8:19; Isa. 7:6; Jer. 33:17-26) and
that promise must be fulfilled, for no
evil can thwart his will. Athaliah is
terrible example of unrestrained
heredity. We have here the results or
an' unholy alliance. This is also an
appalling example of the fruit of
selfish ambition: (a) upon the nation.
(b) on the family, (c) on the individ
ual.
As against this picture we see a con
secrated woman, a devoted home and
the teaching of a pious priest, the
final outcome of which was the over
throw of evil. This priest and hie
wife took certain other traits Joask
inherited from his vile ancestors, such
as courage, energy, skill and perse
verance, and, training them under
right and pious environment, turned
them to the blessing of the nation.
The early formative period of this
boy's life was thus spent in such a.
way as to result in continuous bless
ing throughout his reign (12:1, 2),
III. Crowning, vv. 9-12 (to v. 16). It
was a great service the priest and his
wife rendered to Judah to save and to
train a child. So likewise we are priv
ileged, and those who are truly save
and rightly trained will also ulti
mately be crowned (II Tim. 4:8; I
Peter 5:14; Rev. 2:10).
, There are two accounts of the coro
nation ceremonies (see also II Chron.
22:10-23:21); they differ .but do not
conflict. The five captains and 50
bodyguards wrought a great work oa
that Sabbath day Every man in the
conspiracy did exactly as told. Joash
is brought out at the exact moment
So also will our king appear at God's
appointed time. The law is placed U
his hands (v. 12, Ex. 25:16; Ps. 78:E;
Isa. 8:16, 20). This controverts those
who would have us believe the law
was not written until Joash reigned.
Aside from the law which was placed
in his hands a crown was placed on
his head and there was also the cus
tomary shouting and clapping of hands
and cries of "God save the king" (Am.
R. V.) which accompany such occa
sions. IV. Conclusion. (1) Our Young
Kings (and Queens). For everyone of
our boys and girls there is awaiting a
kingdom. Each is surrounded by dan
gers even as Joash. Their only safety
is In God, in the love and power ot
his holy spirit, the knowledge of his
word, the care and culture of his
church, the guidance and influence of
homes which belong to him.
(2) The Bible and the Coronation.
The chief and most important part of
the coronation was to place the word
of God in the young king's hand. "Thy
word have I hid In my heart that I
might. not sin against thee."
It Is the royal law, life, lively
oracles, food, light and wisdom for
king and subject alike.
(3) The Anointed King. Symbolical
ly Joash received the holy spirit that
he might know how and have power
to live and govern by the law Just
placed in his hands. (I Sam. 10:16;
16:13; Acts 4:27; Heb. 1:9).
Such anointed ones are kings and
queens and their lives are a benedic
tion to all the world.
(4) The Eclipse of Evil.
The one who was most guilty, wfeo
took the sword tnat she might rale,
was the first to cry treason.
Her cry could not any longer boU
back the purposes of God and she mis
erably perished,
"kely to get the limit of the law,
ash. '